Random access: have you been burned by fearful technology companies? - Professional Resources

American Music Teacher, August-Sept, 2002 by George F. Litterst

These problems don't begin and end with computer software. Last year, I purchased a delightful little MP3 player that is about the size of a stick of gum. I can copy an entire audio CD to its memory and listen to excellent quality music while I take a walk, ride in the plane or exercise in the gym.

To copy a CD to the MP3 player, you must connect the MP3 player to a computer. However, you cannot copy a CD to this MP3 player by using just any old computer. You must install onto your computer a special software program provided by the manufacturer. Then, before you can "check in" a new album, you must "check out" the old one or risk not being able to copy the old album to the MP3 player a second time.

Why Treat Us This Way?

The examples I have cited thus far are not isolated cases of technology providers deliberately crippling the end user. Every day, thousands of person hours are lost because technology providers require end users to jump through hoops that have absolutely nothing to do with the reason they bought the new technology in the first place. In the worst cases, end users--particularly the less technically savvy ones--are prevented from using the products altogether.

Why do they do this to us?

During the late '80s and early '90s, it became clear to business software publishers that the software copy-protection schemes of the day were so disturbing they hurt business. So, one-by-one, software companies making business software started getting rid of copy protection. Regrettably, game developers and music software developers largely stuck with it. Was this an indication that the ranks of game players and musicians were more heavily populated with thieves than the business community?

In the case of musicians and music teachers, we have long grappled with the issue that many people choose to copy music rather than purchase it. Although it is hard to imagine there could be very many musicians who have not been told the legal and moral issues to consider with respect to copying, there still seems to be a significant number of individuals who do it anyway.

Based on this experience--I believe--music technology companies often assume end-users of music products will use every opportunity they can find to avoid making purchases of music software programs and music data files, such as MIDI files and electronic sheet music.

Music technology companies tend to be small. Each time a consumer makes or uses an illegal copy of software or data files, the developer often takes it rather personally, and annoying copy-protection is the frequent result.

But Why Take It Out on Me?

Although I understand how the technology providers feel about this issue, I do wonder why they continue to come up with ways to limit my use of their products. I am not the problem, so why punish me?

Are you part of the problem? Or are you an innocent victim who has paid good money for a product that tries to limit your use of it?

If, like me, you are in the latter category, I urge you to speak out on this matter whenever you can. Tell the music technology companies how you feel. Educate your friendly, neighborhood software pirate (who may be one of your colleagues) about the legitimate use of intellectual property.